01 Wardingarri Way
In 2021, ‘The Star of Taroom’, a centuries-old way marker stone used by the Iman People, was returned to Taroom. It had been taken from Bethaney Station in the 1970s by Jim Danalis, transported to Brisbane, and placed amid the ferns and orchids of his backyard.
40 years later, Jim’s son, Johnny Danalis, aware of the importance of returning stolen cultural heritage, decided to walk the 160kg stone in a specially built hard cart 600 km from Brisbane to Taroom. With the blessing of the Iman People and six other Indigenous Nations along the route, Johnny, his friends, and dozens of volunteers embarked on an extraordinary journey, carefully walking the sacred stone home.
On the final day of the 20-day journey, The Star of Taroom was welcomed home by hundreds of Iman, many of whom were venturing back onto their Country for the first time. It was the largest gathering of Iman People since they were driven from their ancestral lands in the frontier wars of the mid-1800s.
The Wardingarri Way app and website were created as a group project for our clients Johnny Danalis, the Warrdingarri way project founder, and the Iman People Board Council, along with community representatives from the Banana Shire and others along the trail. The website where created to pull in people and inform them about the project the app was then created to provide hikers with real-time navigation, cultural insights, and essential planning resources to support a meaningful and well-prepared journey through this significant 600km walk.
The project plan outlines a structured approach to developing the Wardingarri Way app over three phases.
We conducted competitor research to understand how other walking apps structure their user experience, what features they offer, and how they engage users.
A survey was conducted to gather research about “”, there were 12 respondents that took part.
Website design
App design
The website will provide essential information for participants, foster a sense of community, and support the cultural and historical significance of the journey.
The app is designed for those who seek a deeper connection with the Aboriginal lands and culture as they walk. It provides essential navigation and logistical support, while also offering insights into the rich heritage and significance of the Country you traverse.
In Phase 2, the focus shifted to gaining a deeper understanding of what the client truly needed. This involved extensive discussions with our client, Johnny Danalis, as well as members of the Iman people and the Banan Shire Council to define key objectives, understand their vision for the app, and identify essential features. Through extensive research and discussions this was some of the insights we got.
We were working close with the communication students who were able to make a branding pack and icons for us to use for the website and app.
In Phase 3, "Formalise and Present," we focused on translating client feedback and preliminary designs into a polished, functional prototype. This phase involved transforming low-fidelity wireframes into high-fidelity, interactive prototypes that closely matched the client’s vision.
The final step was an opportunity to present the completed prototype to our clients, demonstrating how their feedback and requirements were fully integrated into the design. This presentation showcased the final app features, refined interactions, and user-friendly flow, allowing the clients to see how the product aligned with their vision for the Wardingarri Way. Through this session, we gathered final insights, confirmed that the app met the clients' goals, and discussed potential next steps, making it a rewarding conclusion to the project.